Reader’s Ride(s) – Riley’s Wyatt Driftless

Wyatt Driftless: Endless Fun

Wyatt Driftless fat bike with SRAM build kit.

The bicycle has come a long way. Going to the real definition of “balloon tires”, the fat bike has changed the game for many riders that face a tough riding condition known as winter. Wyatt Bicycle Co. out of La Crosse, Wisconsin is pumping out a bike designed for adventure biking that absolutely rips, no matter what season it is. With a unique bmx like geometry, the Driftless attacks every trail with the ability to climb and descend while still being a fun little toy.

What a better time than now? Winter ain’t so bad.

I got my Wyatt shipped earlier this winter. Being an all mountain rider with an ex-love of DH riding, I never saw myself getting a fat bike. This winter changed that all, these things shred. Riding flow trail all winter has been awesome in Steamboat Springs, CO with this bike. Packed berms, rollers and jumps are accessible right from downtown. Adventure is the motto of Wyatt Bikes, whether you’re trail riding, winter riding or bikepacking, this bike feels good doing it all. Having a shorter chainstay at 450mm the bike handles more playfully corners like a bmx bike. The head tube angle is at a steeper 70.5° helping the bike handle more speed in the straights and enabling the bike to roll features with more confidence. Made of machined aluminum, the Driftless frame is lightweight, yet sturdy making the bike well equipped for bikepacking. Four bosses on the rear triangle open the bike up to all types of rack systems for holding all of your essentials. Quick release is used on the rear triangle keeping the frame more simple while still holding some rigidity.

Winter doesn’t have to be winter anymore.

Wyatt bikes seen in the birthplace of mountain biking, Crested Butte, CO.

With the capability to adventure, trail ride and commute, this bike has it all at a reasonable price. A base build starts at $1,199. Builds are completely customizable including color schemes for frame and decal. Having multiple SRAM build kit options. I am running the SRAM Guide brake and SRAM GX drivetrain.

The GX square tooth design holds your chain like a vice grip.

The RockShox Bluto keeping the ride smooth and a custom fender to keep eyes clear.

The goal for Wyatt fat bikes is to see more people utilizing the fat bike as an everyday machine. Looking towards hunting, military, municipal departments and custom company builds for jobs that see the fat bike as a potential tool. Taking only 8-10 days to get your custom built fat bike, Wyatt prides itself in their hand assembled and powder coated bikes. Your bike is able to be customized online on the Wyatt website making it easy to shop and ponder color schemes.

Getting driftless on a flowtrail in Colorado.

I chose this bike because I find my happiness riding as fast and hard as I can. Getting far back on the rear wheel with such a short chainstay enables me to hold wheelies and manuals a lot longer than I normally can. Wide bars are of course a necessity as well, enabling the bike to handle turns and high speed chunder with more stability. I love my Wyatt. Colorado Trail rides and bikepacking trips are already being planned for summer. This is the bike you ride to the campsite, ride to work, or shred trail with. Long live the bicycle!

Tires don’t always have to be on the ground, just sit back and relax.

The Full Spec List

For more information about Wyatt Bikes visit – http://wyattbikes.com/